CHAPTER 12"I never thought happiness has a face until i saw you smiling. You know amongst the 7 million smiles yours is the best. I never felt this way for any girl. Your proximity makes me behave like a teenager. Your eyes makes me loose my control over my body. Your smell intoxicates me. Don't know what's happening to me but when you are close to me i feel like stopping the time" Neil was talking to himself while admiring the smiling face of Avni in the picture in his phone which he clicked Secretly when she was laughing at one of his jokes.
Yeah! He had started to be humorous in past one week as he loves her smiling face.
He was busy in his self talks when he heard footsteps and he didn't have to turn to see the intruder as he knew who is she.
Neil : You were missing me so much that came to meet me this early in the morning.
Avni was giving him "i'll kill you" looks which were his personal favourite. She walked towards him kept his bag aside and sat down on the table in front of him.
Avni : when will you start to behave seriously??
Neil : when you'll start calling me Neil.
Avni face turned pale. She was looking at his face with empty eyes.
Neil : ok now stop giving those lost expressions. I'll be serious now.
Avni : you shouldn't have come to my home like this.
Neil stood up and sat besides Avni. Moving his face closer to her he said.
Neil : Avni i know tum bhot suffer kar rahi ho but you'll be cured soon. This syndrome is curable.
Avni was giving him puzzled expressions.
Avni : syndrome??
Neil : yeah!! I know you are suffering from KKL SYNDROME.
Avni : what's that???
Neil : kya kehenge log syndrome. You seem to be extremely worried about what people will say.
He started laughing madly looking at Avni's frowning face. She pushed him playfully.
Neil : Aahhh!!!
Avni immediately became concerned for him. She grabbed him by arms.
Avni : you o.k. Kya hua???
Neil : last night a wild cat attacked me in a room. Due to which my ankle got sprained.(he said while looking into her eyes).
Avni : then you should beware of that wild cat next time.
Neil : I'll surely be.
Then she brought hot water to him. She sat down and rinsed his foot.
Neil : Avni leave it. I'll manage. You don't need to touch my foot.
Avni : just sit silently.
She rinsed his sprained ankle and wrapped a crap bandage around it.
She took her bag and started to search something in it. She took out all contents one by one.
Suddenly Ali's muffler caught Neil's attention. He identified it instantly (ofcourse how can he forget that).
Neil : you don't wear such scarfs??
Avni shifts her attention to the cloth piece Neil was holding in his hands.
Avni : oh this... This is not mine!!!
Neil : you never told me you have a brother??
He said it deliberately.
Avni : yes i have one. But ye muffler to Ali ka hai.
Neil : Ali????
Avni : yeah! He forgot it at home. So i thought to return it.
Neil : your dad didn't mind him coming to your place.
Avni : Noo!!! Why would he???Ali is my best friend. Infact we are bestest of friends. He is my childhood buddy...
And she continued talking about him. As we know when it comes to Ali she has more than 1000 pages to talk about.
Her each word about Ali was pricking Neil's heart. He was feeling like trashing that noodle headed boy into pieces. But the worst part is he can't take out his anger building inside him. He was just smiling towards a non-stop talking Avni helplessly.
Neil : Enough of your Ali puraan. Can you stop it now.
He didn't wanted to sound rude. But now he was out of his control. Avni's talks about Ali made him loose his cool.
Avni : what??
Neil : just kidding??(faked a smile).
Avni : And you know one thing he is the same Ali whose cafe you wanted to confiscate.
Neil raised one of his eyebrow at her.
Avni : you remember the day you called me at that restro bar. I didn't wanted to come or see your face. But then i thought that in your rage you could hurt Ali or his cafe. So i decided to come.
Neil : And i was so fool...
Avni : what???
Neil : i mean... That was so foolish of me to ask you to help me getting your friend's cafe.
Avni : actually yes( laughing unaware of anger building inside him).
Neil started moving towards her and pinned her to wall. Till now Avni sensed his anger.
Neil : so your help for me... That concern... That damn friendship... Everything you did for me till now ... Was just to save Ali and his Cafe. Just to make sure that i couldn't hurt your dear Ali and his cafe...
Avni could see fireballs in his eyes. She got scared to see the same Neil Kapoor she encountered a week ago.
Avni : ai... Aisa.. Ku... Kuchh .. Nahi hai. You please listen...
Neil : i m listening... Please speak up...
Avni : i wont lie. That day i came to meet you only for Ali... But...
She couldn't speak further as she cannot tell him why is she with him.
She closed her eyes and tears downpoured from her eyes.
Seeing her crying Neil's anger calmed a bit. He moved back.
Neil : that's ok Ms Avni. I understand... Every person has their own priorities.
Avni : please trust me...
Neil : i do ... I do trust you. You're a true friend and you proved this today.
You know Ms Avni unlike you i never said that we are friends but i really considered you one. I really care for you. I'll always keep this friendship.
You know in past one week i have changed a lot. Really... No pretenses... Everything i did for you from day one was my concern for you as a... As a friend.
I HAD NO HIDDEN MOTIVE BEHIND THIS.
Neil was never this much expressive about his feeling but today he poured out his heart in front of Avni.
Avni was guilty not only about Ali's fiasco but because she was hiding something more than that. UNLIKE HIM SHE DID HAD A HIDDEN MOTIVE BEHIND THIS FRIENDSHIP.
Avni had never seen him so hurt.
Avni : i m sorry. I should have told you about it earlier..(she tried to touch his face but he backed off).
Neil composed himself. He wanted to keep his anger in check as he didn't wanted to hurt her.
Neil : (extremely politely) don't be sorry. It's ok. You told me na that there is no place for sorry between friends. Best na sahi ... But hum friends to hai na.(hurt was clearly evident in his voice).
Avni nodded.
Neil : so now be a good friend and leave me alone for sometime.
Avni : please don't hurt yourself.
Neil : (laughed mockingly) please... Don't give yourself so importance. Actually my Secretary is coming for some work. So i want some privacy.
Avni wanted to speak something but before that Neil picked up Ali's muffler pushed it in Avni's bag and handed it to Avni.
Neil : please leave...
Avni didn't wanted to face his wrath anymore. So she left.
Neil was superdevastated. He was extremely hurt and jealous at the same time. First time in his life he believed in a word FRIEND. And he didn't wanted to lose his restored faith in relationships.
As Avni was moving back she was not hurt by his words... She was sad and guilty... Today she witnessed how much she can hurt him if he doesn't turned out be her Neil. He won't be able to trust her after her betrayal.
At about 8 pm.
Neil was reminiscing his happy moments with Avni and then today's confrontation played in his mind. He gulped down the glass of wine he was holding just then the door bell rang.
Ms Tanu (Neil's PA) was standing there.
Tanu : hello sir!!
Neil was quite disturbed today so for a second he thought to return her. But he was away from a while and a updation was necessary so he let her in.
"Ali is my friend there is nothing to react this way. I know i hurt him by not telling all this to him before. But i didn't wanted to hide this from him. There was nothing to hide about it." Avni was justifying her actions to herself.
"Maana ki isme kuch hide karnewali baat nahi thi. Lekin wo baat jo main chupa rahi hoon uska kya. Agar wo Neil nahi hai to kya yeh uske saath ek dhoka nahi. Mr Kapoor already apni life me itna kuch suffer kar chuke hai...
Just shut up mujhe sirf Neil ke baare me sochna hai" Avni told herself.
"By the way why does he want privacy with that Secretary. Whatever i don't care. But what about his dinner?? He can order online. Or his dear Secretary may cook." Avni was confused.
She decided to give him his space and went to sleep.
Neil was finding it hard to concentrate on Tanu's report. Firstly he was saddened at the fact that today Avni doesn't came back to see him once. Secondly he was quite hungry.
Tanu was presenting the report.
Neil : Ms Tanu aren't you hungry??
Tanu was startled at his question. She didn't expected this from him as she knew him as a man not to be truffled with.
Tanu : sorry sir???
Neil : i mean its dinner time. Do you know cooking??
Tanu : i m afraid sir. I don't know how to cook.
Neil was disappointed.
Tanu : but i can make pasta for two.
Neil face lit up.
Neil : then i would love to assist you.
Tanu was shocked to see such drastic changes in his personality. She already had a deep crush on him but today she was drooling over this side of him.
They headed to kitchen. Neil was remembering Avni and their funny moments in that kitchen.
"Tanu is not a bad girl. I did wrong by hurting her." he was thinking in his mind while looking at Tanu.
Tanu was having butterflies in her stomach as Neil was standing extremely close to her. Suddenly something went in her eye.
Neil was holding her face and was blowing air in her eyes to relieve her. She clutched his shirt at his chest. They were standing dangerously close but having different thoughts going in their minds. Neil was concerned while Tanu was dreaming wild of him.
Just then Avni entered with dinner. Although she tried hard to stop herself but she knew that today she was at fault. So she can't let him sleep hungry.
But the sight before her made her go mad in anger. Tanu was as usual in her backless red short dress was clinging to his shirt like a leech. Her eyes were blood red. She was breathing heavily. She felt her blood boiling.
"How dare she stand this much close to him?? And could he allow her to do so??" she tightened her fist.
Neil sensed her presence but continued with Tanu deliberately.
Avni kept the dinner at table throwing glassware of table on floor with a smash. Neil got himself back and stared at an enraged Avni.
Neil : what the hell is this??
Avni realised what she has done just now.
Avni : (gritting her teeth ) i m sorry.
Neil : i won't forgive you... For being an intruder in our private moment.
Avni : sorry i m just going... You enjoy your privacy(she turned to leave and had water welled up in her eyes).
But he holded her hands.
Neil : hey!! I was just kidding. Ab tumne disturb kar hi diya to let me introduce you to someone special.
He extended his hand towards Tanu. She came placed her hand on his(ofcouse who would let down such a great chance).
Neil : meet Tanu. Tanu this is Avni.
Tanu : hello mam!!
Avni didn't payed any heed to her words. She was just staring Neil who was looking at her with equal intensity.
Avni wanted to throw Tanu out of the place.
Neil : i think you have got dinner with you. We were really hungry.
Tanu come.
He led her to dinner table. Neil served her himself and they both started eating without waiting for Avni.
Avni stood rooted at her place. She was hurt, enraged and jealous... Yes jealous.
Avni went and sat besides him. Neil smiles at this action of hers.
Neil : did you liked it Tanu??
Tanu : yes sir! Its damn tasty. Thank you so much mam.
Now Avni was done with it. She couldn't hold it anymore.
Avni : (almost shouting) you liked it... Great... Then kindly leave... It's quite late... And this city is not safe.(she said last line holding the knife from table and leaning a bit towards her).
Tanu stood up. She looked at Neil whose lips curved in a smile till now. He gestured her to leave.
She left.
Neil went behind her to bid her a bye. He gave her a hug which enraged Avni further.
Neil was standing near the gate turning towards Avni.
She started to move towards him. He prepared himself for a punch or a karate kick from her.
As she approached him he closed his eyes. But nothing happened.
As he opened his eyes he saw Avni sitting on her knees. Tears were flowing endlessly from her eyes. Neils heart sank seeing her condition. He picked her up.
Avni (sobbing) : i m sorry... I didn't intended to hurt you... I m really very sorry...
Neil : (cupping her face) don't feel bad for that Avni. I m not angry with you. I was just angry at that time. So i said all that. I m not angry at you anymore.
Avni was still crying like hell.
Neil hugged her.
Neil : Avni main wo sab bhool gaya hoon. Please you too.
Avni : you are not angry with me na.
Neil : bilkul nahi. I know you didn't had dinner. So let's have it i m still not done...
Now smile...
Avni smiled and Neil fed her dinner.
Precap: no precap today
I know it's too long. You guys got bored na. Sorry...
Tanya it's for you baby... You wanted it to be long na...
So hope you liked it dear.
And hearty apology to those who got bored today
Edited by vu1998 - 8 years ago
Jhanak
